We are all products of our own environments. It’s our surroundings that shape the decisions we make and the paths we choose, and this notion can be applied to quite a lot of things. Take cars for example. Ever since I was a kid one of the most interesting aspects of traveling was always observing the different cars I would see in different countries and I would always wonder what my father would be driving if we lived in another country. It’s very much the same with tuning culture; depending on where you live or the influences you are exposed to you tend, in most cases, to adapt. I think Roland Zetterström is one of the best examples. Roland, who is from Sweden and very much into cars…
…has created what may possibly be one of the most unique KE71 Corollas we have come across here at Speedhunters.
Roland’s passion for Japanese cars and JDM culture in general, see the idlers logo stenciled onto the sidewalls of the tires, was the drive behind his Corolla project, a build he approached with quite a lot of imagination.
The idea here was to create a capable drift car that would mix those unmistakable oldschool lines of the Corolla with lots of modern detailing. This is why on the exterior you will find things like carbon-Kevlar doors, trunk, chin spoiler and hood (removed for the shoot)…
…and custom touches like a side exit exhaust. But it isn’t until you take a look at the engine bay that you fully understand the essence of this car…
…sporting an engine-swap that makes it one of the most uniquely powered KE71s around. Roland wanted reliable power and torque and with plenty of easily obtainable Volvo engines in Sweden he decided to go for the V70R lump, a 2.5L, boosted 5-cyilinder motor that straight out of the box packs 300 HP.
Roland made the most of the set up by throwing in some GLT cams with slightly more aggressive profiles…
…and replaced the turbo with a more modern KKK24 from the Volvo S60R.
The turbine is plumbed in place with custom aluminum piping and the Pipercross cone filter has been located into the front corner of the engine bay to help it suck up the freshest air possible. A large core intercooler is positioned low behind the front grill so it don’t obstruct flow to the radiator.
Roland has even added a shot of nitrous oxide, a little boost of power that’s always there if you need it. An Auto tech ECU takes care of engine management and in this current spec the Corolla manages to develop 330 HP. Transferring this power to the Volvo 240 rear end is a 5-speed Getrag 260 gearbox out of an E34 528/535 BMW which has been adapted to fit the Volvo 5-cylinder engine.
What I noticed at Gatebil is that a lot of people in Scandinavia devote a lot of attention to suspension and suspension set ups and this is one area that Roland in no way skipped over. On top of the adjustable custom front control arms…
…and fully adjustable rear links he fitted 3-way Öhlins dampers all round. The result is a top of the line handling package…
…which has been lowered for that all important optimal stance.
16-inch by 8J Compomotive mesh wheels are the wheels of choice, custom painted in glossy black to contrast the white exterior. You can just about see the D2 6-piston front calipers which bite down on D2 304 mm slotted discs. Stabilizing things are the rear are smaller 2-pot calipers and slightly smaller rotors.
While the exterior may look simple from certain angles there are a lot of details that make this Corolla stand out…
…starting off with the Datsun front fenders that Roland adapted, sporting a series of cut outs on the passenger side to provide a fresh supply of air to the air filter. The tinted headlights were a JDM-spec conversion that replace the square lights the European cars came with and to finish things off the front and rear bumpers were replaced with spotless new items.
The carbon-Kevlar doors help shave a lot of weight off the car as do the lexan windows that have been fitted all round, except the windscreen of course…
…where Roland applied all three Speedhunters stickers that we unveiled at Gatebil.
Swing open the lightweight door and you are confronted with yet more quality and attention to detail. The whole driver side of the dashboard was cut away and rebuilt around a clean sheet of aluminum…
…onto which all the instrumentation was fitted. At the center of the custom cluster is the Auto Meter rev counter with four auxiliary gauges around it, displaying boost, oil pressure, oil and water temperatures.
There is only one bucket seat, meaning that to keep weight down Roland has no intention of taking anyone for rides!
A D2 hydraulic handbrake has been fixed in place at an angle behind the custom linkage for the Getrag transmission, allowing Roland instant rear-wheel lock up when he’s throwing the car sideways around the track.
Got nitrous? Well just a little bit in this mini-canister.
Before embarking on the build Roland stripped down the KE71 chassis to the bare metal, removing sound deadening material and anything that was unneeded for the built. He then seam welded the whole shell and fabricated a custom roll cage using a total of 36 meters of tubing.
The coolest feature of the car, 5-cylinder Volvo engine aside, is the side exit exhaust which runs along the passenger side of the interior…
…and pops out in front of the rear fender.
Roland, seen here posing on top of his car, is very happy with how the project has turned out, however that unavoidable tuning bug has hit again…
…and he is already planning on a new engine for 2013, one that will push out between 600 and 700 HP. I guess you will have to way until next year’s Gatebil to see what he’s got on his mind!
Roland would like to thank everyone that helped him along the way:
FM-bildelar Getinge
superiorimports.se
BDS.se
autofiber.se
streetperformance.se
dalhems.com
larsbilverkstad.com
Gatebil 2012 related stories on Speedhunters
-Dino Dalle Carbonare
Photo By Dino Dalle Carbonare
Photo By Dino Dalle Carbonare
Photo By Dino Dalle Carbonare
Photo By Dino Dalle Carbonare
Photo By Dino Dalle Carbonare
Photo By Dino Dalle Carbonare
Photo By Dino Dalle Carbonare
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
well done ! nice coverage and photoshoot, kind regards from chile dino !
What is it about Sweden that produces cars like this?! Quality, awesome build. Props!
<3
Ok i guess, just WAY to many stupid stickers.
too many stickers
possibly my favorite toyota of all time.
LOL at the "all motor" sticker right next to the turbo.
looks pretty sketchy. ie: turbo rubbing on the head (see the rubbing marks), funky non-adj camber plate thing**, low brake fluid, in-cabin exhaust? (why?), zipties everywhere, rather sharp/not very clean bends on the intercooler piping, turbo ** - second thought. looks to be something that adjusts camber/caster if you were to unbolt it, rotate, bolt in for a different setting?
cool build none the less! 5cyl volvo motors are weeiirrrddd.
-nitpickycorolladude
superb build!
I cringe whenever I see shit brakes on an overall excellent build.
G4, D2 and K-Sport are all the same thing with different badging (as evidenced by taking them apart), and their dampers are unbelievably shit, so I wouldn't trust them with braking.
If you have the money for 3-way Ohlins dampers, you have money for a set of decent brakes. There are many good brake upgrades for the *E7* (AE71, Ke71, KE70 etc.), such as R33 GTS-T calipers and rotors with S13 suspension.
The D2, G4 and K-Sport brakes all are for posers and/ or unknowning newbies.
This is no doubt one of the best and most beautiful cars I have ever seen.
he has created an awesome very personal build, unique and fresh and I guess the exhaust inside isn't a bad idea in sweden
he has created an awesome very personal build, unique and fresh and I guess the exhaust inside isn't a bad idea in sweden
he has created an awesome very personal build, unique and fresh and I guess the exhaust inside isn't a bad idea in sweden
he has created an awesome very personal build, unique and fresh and I guess the exhaust inside isn't a bad idea in sweden
To bad that car is never going to be driven like it's suppose to be driven!
It's a cool car, but it's just a show car.
To bad that car is never going to be driven like it's suppose to be driven!
It's a cool car, but it's just a show car.
To bad that car is never going to be driven like it's suppose to be driven!
It's a cool car, but it's just a show car.
To bad that car is never going to be driven like it's suppose to be driven!
It's a cool car, but it's just a show car.
@raseri How do you know this to be true? Sounds like someone is jealous...!
@raseri How do you know this to be true? Sounds like someone is jealous...!
@raseri How do you know this to be true? Sounds like someone is jealous...!
@raseri How do you know this to be true? Sounds like someone is jealous...!
Rad. I'm feelin this
Rad. I'm feelin this
Rad. I'm feelin this
Rad. I'm feelin this
I know this because i know the person who owns and bulit it
But i would like him to prove me wrong!
I know this because i know the person who owns and bulit it
But i would like him to prove me wrong!
I know this because i know the person who owns and bulit it
But i would like him to prove me wrong!
I know this because i know the person who owns and bulit it
But i would like him to prove me wrong!
as much as i want to like this, it just screams 'trying too hard', and while i'd forgive that, the sticker that says 'all motor' reveals that this dude doesn't really know what 'all motor' means.
as much as i want to like this, it just screams 'trying too hard', and while i'd forgive that, the sticker that says 'all motor' reveals that this dude doesn't really know what 'all motor' means.
as much as i want to like this, it just screams 'trying too hard', and while i'd forgive that, the sticker that says 'all motor' reveals that this dude doesn't really know what 'all motor' means.
as much as i want to like this, it just screams 'trying too hard', and while i'd forgive that, the sticker that says 'all motor' reveals that this dude doesn't really know what 'all motor' means.
So much stupid mofo haters in this world. You shit talkers need to build up a monster of a project then you earn the right to comment. As for me, nice creation here.
So much stupid mofo haters in this world. You shit talkers need to build up a monster of a project then you earn the right to comment. As for me, nice creation here.
So much stupid mofo haters in this world. You shit talkers need to build up a monster of a project then you earn the right to comment. As for me, nice creation here.
So much stupid mofo haters in this world. You shit talkers need to build up a monster of a project then you earn the right to comment. As for me, nice creation here.
I'm feelin this build! Its what makes tuning so great, watchin the mating of all these parts. Good call on the Volvo engine.
I'm feelin this build! Its what makes tuning so great, watchin the mating of all these parts. Good call on the Volvo engine.
I'm feelin this build! Its what makes tuning so great, watchin the mating of all these parts. Good call on the Volvo engine.
I'm feelin this build! Its what makes tuning so great, watchin the mating of all these parts. Good call on the Volvo engine.
That must have taken some commitment and lots of trial and error to shoehorn that motor setup in there. looks like it could have been more effort than it was worth. lots of mickey mouse looking things going on to piece it all together
That must have taken some commitment and lots of trial and error to shoehorn that motor setup in there. looks like it could have been more effort than it was worth. lots of mickey mouse looking things going on to piece it all together
That must have taken some commitment and lots of trial and error to shoehorn that motor setup in there. looks like it could have been more effort than it was worth. lots of mickey mouse looking things going on to piece it all together
That must have taken some commitment and lots of trial and error to shoehorn that motor setup in there. looks like it could have been more effort than it was worth. lots of mickey mouse looking things going on to piece it all together
@SeanStott
Or maybe you don't understand sarcasm?
@SeanStott
Or maybe you don't understand sarcasm?
@SeanStott
Or maybe you don't understand sarcasm?
@SeanStott
Or maybe you don't understand sarcasm?
Sweet sweet build up.! love that volvo lump
to me this a "no compromise" build, and is nothing short of "balls to the wall" and i love it. as for the comment about about the nissan suspension and brake upgrade, that has to one the dumbest things iv heard someone say. "dont knock it till you try it" for a change
and the comment about non adjustable camber on the upper strut mounts just reaks of ignorance, these types of bulids of builds are what i grew up dreaming about, you dont know how lucky we have it.
@Mighty_Mite50 Not only Sweden of course, Gatebil showed us all just how much imagination the Scandinavians in general have!
@KietaPhillips It's all about standing out!
@jasonsbigbrother
the upper strut mount adjustable camber/castor thing had me puzzled as to why they chose that set up. to adjust the camber/castor they would need to remove 30 bolts, rotate to desired setting, then screw the bolts back in place. very inconvenient, especially when testing out the alignment settings at different tracks/courses. and the fact that the castor is changed while the camber is adjusted makes things even all more complicated.
if this thing were to suffer a hit to the front and twist the front-end chassis a bit, the car will have a more limited range of alignment settings depending how hard it's hit..
but there might be some trickery that i'm not aware of. that is why i addressed it in my prev. comment.
but no excuses for low brake fluid, and the turbo rubbing on the head.
@SOLO8 Mike @jasonsbigbrother HAHAHAHAHA!
"no excuses for low brake fluid"... HAHAHAHA kids on here crack me up!!!
time to go do your homework, son.
@bakayaru @SOLO8 @jasonsbigbrother
here, i circled it in red for you in this photo
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq310/miguelyee/lowbfluid.png
unless that black stuff is old brake fluid residue (which i wouldn't be surprised judging how well the rest of the build was put together...)
it's also suspicious that the rest of the photos leave out the brake fluid reservoir.
are you the owner of this corolla? im not hating, i have nothing against this car. just a bunch of criticisms and questions to the build (that's okay right?).
Not even part of Idlers.
All motor on a turbo.
Dresses like a teenage ape.
Sorry man you try waaaaaaay too hard.
@SOLO8 Mike You have somewhat shown what level of knowledge you have
A turbo is mounted to the exhaust manifold, which is bolted to the head, the turbo cannot move independently of the engine so those are not rubbing marks probably grinding marks where the manifold has been ground to let the turbo fit
In cabin exhaust? He's swedish, look at the majority of Scandanavian cars, they all have in cabin exhausts
Zipties? WTF? they work, they item is held in place so job done
5 cyc volvo motors are weird, they're also awesome to tune and make perfect 'bang for buck' as they're cheap
@speedhunters_dino Agreed.
Wow, tell us how you really feel...
It still amazes me how one mans' build is a bunch of peoples arguments, lol.
Front chin spoiler is from Golf mk1
@SOLO8 Mike @SOLO8 @jasonsbigbrother
I'm not the owner. I'm building up a miata and an RX7, and no - a "bunch of criticisms are NOT ok".
You'd never pull that shit in real life, because you have the owner in your grill, telling you to STFU.
and you would. you'd keep your mouth shut with petty negativity, if you were actually there with the owner.
the fact that you're zooming in on fluid levels, trying to find any little detail to hate - I truly despise people like you. You won't post your own build, but only criticize others.
He's sure trusting his life to a lot of scary components (seat, harness, brakes).
Could be a nice car but the kid who delivers my pizza in a Ford Probe has stickers that make more sense.
Very creative and bordering on lunacy but if I'm seeing things right, this is a top notch build that most commenters here will not understand. Great car and wonderful coverage, wicked nice pics, look at the front strut towers WOW!
all i can say is this thig is a mess of $ and no style / taste in my opinion...
all i can say is this thig is a mess of $ and no style / taste in my opinion...
all i can say is this thig is a mess of $ and no style / taste in my opinion...
The owner is an interesting looking fellow, isn't he? I like this build, it's unique.
@bakayaru
http://i3.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/007/508/watch-out-we-got-a-badass-over-here-meme.png
MadMike: Oh damn Rod, how could you make me have to pick a favourite?! The Toyota DX Corolla with the five-cylinder turbo Volvo engine was perfection in my terms! The build quality was to the highest level, the stance, engine conversion, wheel choice, offset, sticker placement and sound of the boosted five-cylinder growling through the side-pipe were just a few of the things that made this the perfect package
Saw this car live on gatebil... Easily in top 3 cars that weekend, for me that is.
Where did the front 5 stud conversion come from?
It´s awesome! And here you got his old builds http://www.garaget.org/dubrolle/cars#old
anyway I can get some high resolution pics of the engine bay?
anyway I can get some high resolution pics of the engine bay?
anyway I can get some high resolution pics of the engine bay?
and What kind of AXLE it use?
Cracy find ......im actually Working on finishing mine on a trueno ae86..t5rmotor....with a 5 speed tremec.....9"rear end .....coming soon on streets of new York